Field appraisers from the Upshur County Appraisal District are out working, Chief Appraiser Sarah Curtis announced last week.

Properties in Gilmer ISD and commercial properties in the city of Gilmer will be inspected for the 2013 tax year. Early this month, appraisers are starting in the Gilmer city limits; the north and southeast rural areas of Gilmer ISD; and portions of Pittsburg ISD, Curtis said.

“Each appraiser has ID issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and a lanyard identifying them, by name and photo, from the Upshur County Appraisal District,” the chief appraiser said.

The appraisers also have signs on their vehicles bearing the word “Appraiser” and the district’s phone number, she said.

“Property owners are encouraged to confirm with the CAD (Central Appraisal District) Office an appraiser’s identity if there is any question,” Curtis wrote. The phone number is 903-843-3041.

“No staff member will ask to enter your home,” she said. However, if there is need to measure a new structure or remeasure an existing one, the appraiser will go to the door to notify anybody who is home know he/she is on the property, Curtis added.

“With so many properties to be seen, appointments are not made,” she wrote. She said a photo will be taken of property, if necessary.

Appraisers cannot discuss property’s value, as valuations are based on sales information and applied in late March, Curtis said.

“At this point, each appraiser is just gathering the individual characteristics, depreciation and size of properties, not setting a value,” she explained.

While exemption applications aren’t available in the field, they will be mailed upon request, Curtis noted.

Since this is the year for city reappraisals, several of the “small or questionable” agricutural properties within cities’ limits are required to reapply for ag value, she added.

“For all other ag (property), income and expense survey information is needed for the 2012 production year. This is needed for hay, grazing leases, dry crops, irrigated crops, nurseries, and orchards,” Curtis added.

Anyone willing to help with gathering information on that matter can call for, or pick up, surveys at the appraisal district on FM 49 in Gilmer or by calling 903-843-3041. Forms are also available on the district’s website at Upshur-cad.org.

Appraisal work is scheduled to be completed by mid-March, but “it will be some time” before appraisers get to each property, Curtis said.